Overview
- Late Wednesday night into early Thursday, U.S. military troops used the vacant St. Luke’s Medical Center in Pasadena for a drill that included low‑flying helicopters, rappelling soldiers, simulated gunfire and controlled explosions.
- Comparable exercises followed at other vacant sites this week, including the Golden Sails Hotel in Long Beach and the Puente Hills Mall in the City of Industry, with some operations running past their posted end times.
- Many residents said they were startled or frightened, multiple cities reported surges of 911 and nonemergency calls, and neighbors described sleep disruption and property vibration from rotor wash.
- Cities publicly warned residents shortly before the drills and provided police for perimeters and traffic control, but officials say the military shared few operational details and has not responded to media requests.
- Retired officers and analysts say off‑base urban training is routine to practice confined‑space and building assaults and pointed to specialized Army aviation units as likely participants, a fact that may prompt calls for clearer local notice and oversight.